“This is of the upmost importance in our efforts in having only the best men and women in law enforcement to protect and serve all Michigan residents,” said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. “A background check on all prospective law enforcement officers is vitally important. It is about building public trust and ensuring that we are not teaching firearms training to violent offenders.”

Currently, MCOLES does not have authority to gain information from the Michigan State Police (MSP) on fingerprints submitted for a criminal history record information check by persons wanting to enter a preservice college basic law enforcement training academy or a regional basic law enforcement training academy.

Senate Bill 524 would allow MCOLES to have the MSP conduct fingerprint background checks of applicants to law enforcement training academies through the MSP system and through the FBI.

“The fact that we are not already doing this is a shocking flaw in the system, and it needs to be corrected immediately,” said Jones. “I want to thank MCOLES for coming to me to fix this problem. With the support of state police, my goal is to have this done before the next police academies start this fall.”

Jones, a former Eaton County sheriff, has also worked to help ensure that Michigan has good and honorable law enforcement officers. In March, the Senate approved Senate Bill 223, which would require that a police officer’s bad behavior would not be hidden by that officer’s resignation.